{"id":2773,"date":"2025-11-09T12:09:00","date_gmt":"2025-11-09T12:09:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/morkemeditasjoner.no\/?p=2773"},"modified":"2026-04-12T22:19:38","modified_gmt":"2026-04-12T22:19:38","slug":"nietzsche-or-perhaps-not","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/morkemeditasjoner.no\/?p=2773&lang=en","title":{"rendered":"Nietzsche, or perhaps not?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

On the back cover of Bathory\u2019s 1991 album Twilight Of The Gods<\/em>, we find a quotation signed «Friedrich Nietzsche 1871». Through releases such as this, Bathory had a major influence on the emergence of the Norwegian black metal scene in the late 1980s and early 1990s. It is likely that many of those who listened to Bathory and carved out their own place in Norwegian black metal history at the same time also developed an interest in reading the German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche (1844\u20131900) through the quote on the back cover of Bathory\u2019s Twilight Of The Gods<\/em>. But does the quote actually come from Nietzsche? Or have Bathory, with lyricist and creative director Thomas B\u00f6rje «Quorthon» Forsberg (1966\u20132004), been pulling our leg for over 30 years?<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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Bathory, Twilight Of The Gods<\/em> (1991). Foto: Discogs.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Thomas B\u00f6rje \u00abQuorthon\u00bb Forsberg (1966\u20132004). Foto: Ukjent.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

There are many examples of black metal artists who draw on texts written by Friedrich Nietzsche, whether as a source of inspiration, through direct quotations or intertextual references. In particular, it is Nietzsche\u2019s liberation of humanity from God-given norms, self-development, and the empowerment of individuals to find their own values and choose the life they desire that appeals to black metal. In summary, we can say that black metal identifies with the \u00dcbermensch\u2019s intellectual leap away from Christian slave morality. Placing oneself above others by having understood something others have not is an important part of black metal\u2019s ideology.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Swedish first-generation black metal band Bathory, which formed in 1983, is thus a band that draws on Nietzsche\u2019s writings both as a source of inspiration, through direct quotations and intertextual references.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Friedrich Nietzsche 1871?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Jos\u00e9 Luis Cano Barr\u00f3n, From Hades to Valhalla\u2026 BATHORY – The Epic Story<\/em> (2024).<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

I got in touch with Jos\u00e9 Luis Cano Barr\u00f3n, who has written the unofficial biography From Hades to Valhalla\u2026 BATHORY \u2013 The Epic Story<\/em> from 2024 about the band, to ask his opinion on the Nietzsche quote printed on the cover of Bathory\u2019s 1991 release Twilight Of The Gods<\/em>, and signed «Friedrich Nietzsche 1871». Was this quote written by Nietzsche, or was it not? He could neither confirm nor deny this, but he was able to tell me that Forsberg read a great deal of Nietzsche:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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I think Q read all the Nietzche stuff, and even knew that his sister reworked much of the Nietzche before and after his death1<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Here, Barr\u00f3n refers to the fact that Nietzsche\u2019s anti-Semitic sister, Elisabeth F\u00f6rster-Nietzsche (1846\u20131935), rendered her brother\u2019s writings anti-Semitic in the period following Nietzsche\u2019s descent into paralysing madness and subsequent death.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The quotation on the cover of Twilight of the Gods<\/em> reads as follows, including spelling mistakes and odd punctuation:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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O, what harm do we not bring upon ourself in search of the utter freedom in this modern age of madness. Man will need to ask herself:\u00a0 \u2013 «now that we seek to record all our origin, we have also proven that god is not. Who will now tell us so that we will listen, when we have broken the last of the laws of nature when we shouted »\u00a0 Freedom. Liberty »\u00a0 and held nothing against the elimination of the first «?\u00a0 One may indeed fear this era, for it is not only the moment of truth and of repentance. For it is also truly\u2026\u2026\u2026.. The Twilight of the Gods!2<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

When I first read the quote, I sat there wondering which of Nietzsche\u2019s texts it was taken from. The words and phrasing are in many ways typical of Nietzsche: it is rambling, bombastic, and full of words that stir up emotions. The sentences seem to lash out at us and our present day with condemnation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Friedrich
Friedrich Nietzsche, 1882. Foto: Wikimedia.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Richard Wagner, 1871. Foto: Wikimedia.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The text is written in English and the quotation is therefore dated to 1871, ending with the words «The Twilight of the Gods». This was what first made me a little suspicious, because the book Nietzsche wrote, entitled Twilight of the Idols, or, How to Philosophize with a Hammer<\/em> in English, was not actually written until 1888, and published in 1889, 17\u201318 years later. In German, the book is called G\u00f6tzen-D\u00e4mmerung, oder, Wie man mit dem Hammer philosophiert<\/em>, and in Norwegian it is known, amongst other titles, as Avgudenes skumringstid eller hvordan man filosoferer med hammeren<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The term G\u00f6tzen-D\u00e4mmerung<\/em> is clearly a reference to the fourth and final part of Richard Wagner\u2019s (1813\u20131883) 1876 opera Der Ring des Nibelungen<\/em>. This part is titled G\u00f6tterd\u00e4mmerung<\/em> in German and Twilight of the Gods<\/em> in English.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

G\u00f6tterd\u00e4mmerung \u2013 where G\u00f6tter<\/em> means «gods» and D\u00e4mmerung<\/em> means «twilight» \u2013 is often translated into Norwegian as Ragnarok<\/em>, which in Norse mythology is the name for the end of the world, but it is also translated more directly, as in English, as «the twilight of the gods», that is, their imminent demise \u2013 which, in line with the Norwegian translation of Ragnarok<\/em>, is meant to signify «the fall of the gods». The Norse ragnar\u01ebkr<\/em> is a compound word consisting of ragna<\/em>, from regin<\/em>, «gods», and r\u01ebk<\/em>, «development, fate».<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Walter Kaufmann, Nietzsche, Philosopher, Psychologist, Antichrist<\/em> (1950). Foto: Wikimedia.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

In his 2007 article «Friedrich Nietzsche and the Shakespeare Authorship Controversy», Robert Sean Brazil refers to Walter Kaufmann, who, in his 1950 book Nietzsche, Philosopher, Psychologist, Antichrist<\/em>, published in 1950, claims that Nietzsche was inspired to use the term G\u00f6tzen<\/em>\/idol<\/em> by Francis Bacon\u2019s (1561\u20131626) essay Novum Organum<\/em> from 1620.3<\/a><\/sup> Here, Bacon lists what he calls The Four Idols, or four widespread prejudices that hinder free scientific inquiry. Wikipedia lists them as follows:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Francis Bacon (1561\u20131626), ca. 1731. Kunstner: John Vanderbank, kopi av et maleri av ukjent kunstner fra ca. 1618. Foto: Wikimedia.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

When Nietzsche uses the word G\u00f6tzen<\/em> rather than G\u00f6tter<\/em>, he wishes to emphasise that what he is writing about is not a god, but a false god, an idol<\/em>. For Nietzsche, it is therefore a false god, an idol, that falls. And this idol is the God of Christianity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  1. Idols of the Tribe<\/strong> (Idola tribus<\/a><\/em>): This is humans’ tendency to perceive more order and regularity in systems than truly exists, and is due to people following their preconceived ideas about things.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Idols of the Cave<\/strong> (Idola specus<\/a><\/em>): This is due to individuals’ personal weaknesses in reasoning due to particular personalities, likes and dislikes.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Idols of the Marketplace<\/strong> (Idola fori<\/a><\/em>): This is due to confusion in the use of language and taking some words in science to have a different meaning than their common usage.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. Idols of the Theatre<\/strong> (Idola theatri<\/a><\/em>): This is the following of academic dogma and not asking questions about the world.4<\/a><\/sup><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

    When Nietzsche uses the term G\u00f6tzen<\/em>, it is to present Christianity as a prejudice we should rid ourselves of in order to free our minds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Another thing that made me suspicious of Bathory\u2019s Nietzsche quote was the spelling mistakes and the odd punctuation. The first sentence reads «O, what harm do we not bring upon ourself», where the last word should have been ourselves<\/em>. It is doubtful whether Nietzsche, or a translator of Nietzsche, would have written «Man will need to ask herself»! God is written as a noun \u2013 «god» \u2013 and not as a proper noun (with a capital letter). There are also strange gaps in the punctuation, and a great many full stops after «truly», something I have not seen occur in Nietzsche\u2019s texts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    To check whether the quotation does in fact appear in Nietzsche\u2019s collected works, I selected a number of key words and phrases, translated them into German, and searched the corpus as presented in the Digitale Kritische Gesamtausgabe<\/em> on the Nietzsche Source<\/em> website (http:\/\/www.nietzschesource.org\/<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Central to this is the phrase «Twilight of the Gods» at the very end of the quotation. There are 21 passages in 20 different texts in which Nietzsche uses the phrase «G\u00f6tterd\u00e4mmerung». In his letters, he most often uses the phrase in contexts referring to Wagner\u2019s opera Der Ring des Nibelungen<\/em>, which premiered in 1876, five years after 1871.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    Erwin Rohde (1845\u20131898). Foto: Wikimedia.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    In a letter to his fellow philologist Erwin Rohde (1845\u20131898) dated 23 November 1871, Nietzsche writes of Wagner that «Der zweite Akt der G\u00f6tterd\u00e4mmerung ist vor 3 Tagen fertig geworden.» (The second act of G\u00f6tterd\u00e4mmerung was completed three days ago.),5<\/a><\/sup> which shows that Nietzsche was already familiar with this part of the work by 1871.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    In fact, the term «G\u00f6tterd\u00e4mmerung» first appears in Nietzsche\u2019s writings as early as 1869, in a fragment,6<\/a><\/sup> though at that time it was used as a noun to refer to the age of Euripides. Euripides (c. 485 \u2013 c. 406 BCE) was the last of the three great tragic poets of ancient Greece, following Aeschylus and Sophocles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Apart from the letter to Erwin Rohde, the term «G\u00f6tterd\u00e4mmerung» appears once more in a text from 1871, namely in the essay Socrates and the Greek Tragedy<\/em> dated 18 June 1871. Here, Nietzsche comments on the Greek tragedian Aeschylus (c. 525 \u2013 c. 456 BCE) and his (presumed) tragedy Prometheus Bound<\/em>, about the Greek titan Prometheus who defied the gods and gave fire to mankind. Prometheus was punished by Zeus by being chained to two pillars and having his regenerating liver pecked out by Zeus\u2019s eagles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    In the same way, I tried my hand at translating terms such as modern<\/em>\/modern<\/em>, madness<\/em>\/Wahnsinn<\/em>\/Verr\u00fccktheit<\/em>\/Irrsinn<\/em>\/Tollheit<\/em>, freedom<\/em>\/liberty<\/em>\/freiheit<\/em>, laws of nature<\/em> \/ Naturgesetze<\/em>, og repentance<\/em>\/Bu\u00dfe<\/em>\/Reue<\/em>), but to no avail.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    I can therefore say with 99 per cent certainty that the quote was not written by Nietzsche, and was therefore most likely written by Forsberg himself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Analysis of the content of the quotation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    What about the content and meaning of the quote \u2013 can it be attributed to Nietzsche?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Let us first break the quotation down into its individual sentences, which we will then number for the sake of clarity:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    S1<\/td>O, what harm do we not bring upon ourself in search of the utter freedom in this modern age of madness.<\/td><\/tr>
    S2<\/td>Man will need to ask herself:  \u2013 «now that we seek to record all our origin, we have also proven that god is not.<\/td><\/tr>
    S3<\/td>Who will now tell us so that we will listen, when we have broken the last of the laws of nature when we shouted »  Freedom. Liberty »  and held nothing against the elimination of the first «? <\/td><\/tr>
    S4<\/td>One may indeed fear this era, for it is not only the moment of truth and of repentence.<\/td><\/tr>
    S5<\/td>For it is also truly\u2026\u2026\u2026.. The Twilight of the Gods!<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    The first sentence (S1) \u2013 «O, what harm do we not bring upon ourself in search of the utter freedom in this modern age of madness» \u2013 expresses a lament over humanity\u2019s pursuit of absolute freedom, and the fact that a freedom which was meant to liberate us has instead become a source of harm and destruction. The phrase «this modern age of madness» suggests a modern era in which religion and morality have dissolved into a chaotic ideal of freedom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    S2 states that «Man will need to ask herself:\u00a0 \u2013 «now that we seek to record all our origin, we have also proven that god is not.» This statement points to the role of modern science and historiography in abolishing God. The moment humankind charts its origins \u2013 biological, historical, psychological \u2013 we have removed the need for a divine creation. The phrase «proven that god is not» is a direct echo of Nietzsche\u2019s decree that God is dead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    S3 reads as follows: «Who will now tell us so that we will listen, when we have broken the last of the laws of nature when we shouted »\u00a0 Freedom. Liberty »\u00a0 and held nothing against the elimination of the first «?» Both «freedom» and «liberty» seems to refer to the same thing, but there is a distinction in meaning between the two terms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The sentence first claims that we have broken the last of the laws of nature by attempting to claim freedom for ourselves. In the second part of the sentence, there is an unclear reference. Is it referring to the first of the laws of nature? To the laws of nature as such, and that we have done nothing to preserve them? Or is it referring to the fact that we have retained liberty, and through that removed freedom? In such an interpretation, we must first understand the distinction between freedom and liberty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Liberty<\/em> can be defined as «the state of being free in society from oppressive restrictions imposed by authorities on one\u2019s lifestyle, behaviour or political views». Liberty concerns the right of individuals to make their own choices without interference from the government or other institutions. Fundamental freedoms such as freedom of expression, freedom of religion and freedom of the press are encompassed within this form of liberty. This is a freedom that limits the state\u2019s power over the individual.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Freedom, on the other hand, refers to an individual\u2019s ability to act or think as they please without being hindered by external forces. It is often associated with the idea of self-determination and the pursuit of happiness. Freedom is a more general concept that can be applied to a wide range of activities, from economic freedom to personal freedom. This is a more general freedom from any external influence on the individual.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    It may seem strange to claim that we have retained liberty, and in doing so have eliminated freedom. After all, the state\u2019s moderate restrictions are more likely to lead to greater personal freedom. This seems an implausible interpretation, and I am more inclined to believe that what is intended is a breach of the laws of nature through the pursuit of absolute freedom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The question posed in S3 must be: When, in our intoxication with freedom, we have rejected the laws of nature, who then has the authority to guide us? The expression «elimination of the first» may refer to the first law, that is, the divine or natural constitution (the order of life, creation, perhaps God himself). Mankind has cried out «Freedom!», but in the process has destroyed the very foundation of its existence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    S4 asserts that «One may indeed fear this era, for it is not only the moment of truth and of repentence.», and S5 asserts that «For it is also truly\u2026\u2026\u2026.. The Twilight of the Gods!». There is reason to view these statements together because they seem to assert that in this modern age of madness (S1), it is not merely a time for repentance and truth, but also a time when the gods are disappearing. It may seem as though it is the fall of the gods that is beginning to dawn on us, and that this is what we should repent of.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    «The Twilight of the Gods» refers directly to the end of the world in Norse and Germanic mythology, where the gods perish and a new world is to emerge. But in this text, the expression is used figuratively: our age is the «twilight of the gods» because all gods, authorities and moral absolutes have fallen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    This text seems to be quite far removed from what Nietzsche stood for. We shall set this suspicion aside for now and instead explore a clue that might make the meaning of this quotation easier to understand, a clue provided by the aforementioned Jos\u00e9 Luis Cano Barr\u00f3n. He writes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    I suppose Quorthon did that quote, and, in my opinion,. is very related and connected to the lyrics of the song «Twilight of the Gods»7<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

    The Twilight of the Gods<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    According to Barr\u00f3n, there is therefore a semantic connection between the quote and the title track «Twilight Of The Gods» on the album Twilight Of The Gods<\/em>. Let us look at the lyrics to this song, with the verses broken down and numbered. The lyrics are reproduced differently across various releases, i.e. with a number of spelling mistakes which I do not know whether they are from Forsberg himself or have crept in during the production of the cover. These variations are marked, and I have used the version of the lyrics that makes the most sense in context.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    <\/td>«Twilight Of The Gods»<\/td><\/tr>
    <\/td>V1<\/td><\/tr>
    VL1
    VL2
    VL3
    VL4<\/td>    		There is a serpent in every Eden
    Slick as grease and cold as ice
    There is a lie in every meaning
    Rest assured to fool you twice<\/td><\/tr>
    <\/td>V2<\/td><\/tr>
    VL5
    VL6
    VL7
    VL8<\/td>    		In this age of utter madness
    We maintain we are in control
    (And)*<\/sup> ending life before deliverance
    While countries are both bought and sold<\/td><\/tr>
    <\/td>V3<\/td><\/tr>
    VL9
    VL10
    VL11
    VL12<\/td>    		Holy writings**<\/sup> (and)*<\/sup> hokus-pokus
    Blaze of glory and crucifix
    Pre-priced***<\/sup> costly credit salvation#<\/sup>
    TV-preachers and dirty tricks<\/td><\/tr>
    <\/td>V4<\/td><\/tr>
    VL13
    VL14
    VL15
    VL16<\/td>    		Don’t trust nobodyIt will cost you much too##<\/sup> much
    Beware of the dagger
    It (will)###<\/sup> caress you at first touch<\/td><\/tr>
    <\/td>V5<\/td><\/tr>
    VL17
    VL18<\/td>    		O, all small creatures
    It is the twilight of$<\/sup> the gods<\/td><\/tr>
    <\/td>V6<\/td><\/tr>
    VL19
    VL20
    VL21
    VL22<\/td>    		When the foundations to our existence
    Begins to crumble one by one
    And legislations protects its breakers
    And he who was wrong but paid the most won<\/td><\/tr>
    <\/td>V7<\/td><\/tr>
    VL23
    VL24
    VL25
    VL26<\/td>    		Even the gods of countless religions
    Holds no powers against this tide
    Of degeneration because we have now found
    That there is no throne$$<\/sup> up there in the sky<\/td><\/tr>
    <\/td>V8<\/td><\/tr>
    VL27
    VL28
    VL29
    VL30<\/td>    		Run from this$$$<\/sup> fire
    It will burn your very soul
    Its flames reaching higher
    Come%<\/sup> this far there is no hold<\/td><\/tr>
    <\/td>V9<\/td><\/tr>
    VL31
    VL32
    VL33<\/td>    		O, all small creatures
    It is the twilight of$<\/sup> the gods
    (Twilight of the gods)<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n